A relaxing way to help fight breast cancer

When Amy Tabisz was 18 years old her mother died of breast cancer.

So when she became involved with Massage Envy in February 2007, she knew what she wanted to do to honor her mother.

The national company holds an annual day of fundraising for breast cancer research.

For Tabisz and her family, it was the perfect event to honor their mother.

"We try to do anything we can as far as research and donations," said Tabisz, the administrator at Geneva's Massage Envy. "This being something we can be a part of, for me, is amazing."

The Susan G. Comen for the Cure event is set for Monday and, for the first time since it began in 2005, it will include all 15 Massage Envy clinics in the Chicago area.

Massage Envy's Chief Marketing Officer Dallas Bennewitz said the event has raised $357,000 in its first three years and the goal this year is $500,000 after adding six markets, including Chicago. That brings the total to 12 markets participating.

Tabisz contacted national representatives to see what she could do to get the event in the Chicago area.

She said several of her staff has dealt with breast cancer and other cancers.

"It means so much to so many of the staff members," she said of working on the event. "It's nice to be able to do something for the community with nothing necessarily coming to us for profit."

For Tabisz, the disease hits close to home.

Her mother was diagnosed 12 years ago when Tabisz was a high school freshman.

Her family has taken part in the Mother's Day Y-ME walk in Chicago ever since she was diagnosed.

The Geneva clinic is open from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. and hopes to pull in 200 massages. On normal days, Tabisz said the clinic does between 65 and 95 appointments.

"It's going to be a huge undertaking," said Tabisz, who lives in Downers Grove.

Tabisz said the store would accept walk-ins but prefers people made an appointment. Massages are free but a donation is recommended.

To set up an appointment at the Geneva Massage Envy, call (630) 208-0100.

Where to donate (and get a massage)

The Massage Envy locations in the Chicago area, all of which will take part in the Susan G. Komen for the Cure event Monday, which benefits breast cancer research:

Chicago: (312) 222-0888

Geneva: (630) 208-0100

Glen Ellyn: (630) 790-4400

Hoffman Estates: (847) 645-1700

Lake Zurich: (847) 438-9100

Naperville: (630) 717-3689

Oswego: (630) 554-5055

Palatine: (847) 991-1010

Schaumburg: (847) 843-3689

South Elgin: (847) 888-8500

Tinley Park: (815) 469-4400

Vernon Hills: (847) 367-1010

Wheaton: (630) 510-3689

Wheeling: (847) 537-9500

Wilmette: (847) 267-0101